West Valley CollegeAnthropology Department

What is Anthropology?

The word anthropology itself tells the basic
story--from the Greek anthropos ("human") and
logia ("study")--it is the study of humankind,
from its beginnings millions of years ago to the
present day.

Nothing human is alien to anthropology. Indeed, of the
many disciplines that study our species, Homo
sapiens, only anthropology seeks to understand the
whole panorama--in geographic space and evolutionary
time--of human existence.

Though easy to define, anthropology is difficult to
describe. Its subject matter is both exotic (e.g., star
lore of the Australian aborigines) and commonplace
(anatomy of the foot). And its focus is both sweeping
(the evolution of language) and microscopic (the
use-wear of obsidian tools). Anthropologists may study
ancient Mayan hieroglyphics, the music of African
Pygmies, and the corporate culture of a U.S. car
manufacturer.

But always, the common goal links these vastly
different projects: to advance knowledge of who we are,
how we came to be that way--and where we may go in the
future. (from the American Anthropological Association website)